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Bob Willis Trophy round-up: Jake Libby leads dominant Gloucestershire while another Essex youngster emerges

Worcestershire's Jake Libby celebrates his century during day one of The Bob Willis Trophy match  - PA
Worcestershire's Jake Libby celebrates his century during day one of The Bob Willis Trophy match - PA

Jake Libby scored a hundred on his home debut for Worcestershire as he and fellow centurion Brett D’Oliveira dominated proceedings in the Bob Willis Trophy match with Glamorgan.

An initial three-wicket burst by paceman Michael Hogan had given the visitors the edge at Blackfinch New Road. But Libby and D’Oliveira then took over, having come together at 70 for three shortly before lunch.

Libby, signed during the close season from Nottinghamshire on a three-year contract, completed the sixth first-class ton of his career from 205 balls with 11 boundaries. He ended unbeaten on 142 from 261 deliveries with one six and 14 fours.

D’Oliveira went to his century from 183 balls with 14 fours and the stand was worth an unbroken 239 in 64 overs – a new record for Worcestershire’s fourth wicket in matches against Glamorgan.

He finished on 123 from 206 balls with one six and 15 boundaries as Worcestershire closed on 309 for three from 91 overs.

Feroze Khushi suggested Essex’s production line is in no danger of slowing down as the academy product celebrated his maiden first-class half-century on an even opening day against Surrey.

The batsman was one of 10 home-grown talents in Essex’s cup side to face Surrey as he struck 66 on his second appearance for the county.

Feroze Khushi of Essex - Getty Images
Feroze Khushi of Essex - Getty Images

Adam Wheater, who along with Sam Cook was awarded his county cap before play, also reached fifty as Essex reached the close on 253 for seven.

Surrey, who have seven Kia Oval-bred players in their XI, proved their youth was also prospering as debutant Gus Atkinson, James Taylor and Amar Virdi all claimed respective wickets.

Kent’s Harry Podmore and Marcus O’Riordan took three wickets apiece, while Sussex captain Ben Brown top-scored with an unbeaten 90 as honours finished even on the opening day of their game at Canterbury.

O’Riordan, the 22-year-old off-spinner making only his third first-class appearance, took career-best figures of three for 50 and former Middlesex seamer Podmore bagged three for 74, while Brown stood firm for over four hours to see Sussex in at stumps on 320 for nine.

The visitors lost three wickets in the opening session, all due to batting errors. After hitting four boundaries in a run-a-ball cameo worth 19, Phil Salt feathered a tentative prod outside off stump to the wicketkeeper from a Daren Stevens leg-cutter to make it 27 for one.

Second-wicket partners Harry Finch and Tom Haines added 50 from 80 balls, before Kent debutant Tim Groenewald, bowling around the wicket, had left-hander Haines caught off an edged drive by Jordan Cox at slip for an attractive 21.

Then, on the cusp of lunch, Finch fell for 37, caught at slip when aiming to slog-sweep O’Riordan.

Sussex ploughed on through Brown and Tom Clark – who added 83 in almost 22 overs to take Sussex to their first batting bonus point.